Department for Education

School Day: Coronavirus

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information his Department holds on the number of schools that have altered the length of their school day since the start of the covid-19 outbreak.

Michelle Donelan: In the 2020/21 academic year, schools made use of staggered start and finish times as part of the response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The Department does not hold data on the number of schools who made temporary changes to their school day during this period.

Assessments

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps is he taking to ensure Ofqual publish final details of adjustments to the 2022 exam series as soon as possible.

Michelle Donelan: It is the Government’s firm intention that exams and assessments should go ahead in 2022. The Department recognises that those students taking exams in 2022 have had considerable disruption to their education. On 12 July, together with Ofqual, a joint consultation was published, seeking views on the proposed changes to GCSE, AS and A level exams in summer 2022 in light of the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on students entering these qualifications: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/proposed-changes-to-the-assessment-of-gcses-as-and-a-levels-in-2022. The consultation closed on 1 August. The Department plans to announce final decisions on the changes to GCSE and A/AS level exams in summer 2022 early in the autumn term. Arrangements for VTQs were announced on 6 August: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/arrangements-for-the-assessment-and-awarding-of-vocational-technical-and-other-general-qualifications-2021-to-2022. In deciding on an approach to grading next year, the Department will be asking Ofqual to be as fair as possible to students taking qualifications next summer and to those who took them in previous years or will take them in the future. We recognise the need to give certainty to students, teachers and organisations that rely on qualifications as soon as possible, and Ofqual will be giving a clear indication of that grading system in October. Whilst the Department remains firmly committed to exams going ahead in 2022, we are also working with Ofqual, the exam boards and stakeholders on contingency plans in the unlikely event that this does not prove possible. We will consult on the details in the autumn term.

Members: Correspondence

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when he plans to respond to the letter dated 21 May 2021 from the hon Member for Blackpool North and Cleveleys on childcare support for student nurses.

Michelle Donelan: I can confirm that a response has been sent to the hon. Member for Blackpool North and Cleveleys.

School Day

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information his Department holds on the average length of the school day by (a) local authority, (b) region and (c) nationally.

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, by what date he plans to publish his Department's review into the impact of the length of the school day on education recovery.

Michelle Donelan: The Department has collected information on the length of the school day from the school snapshot survey panel by region. The school snapshot panel is a regular online survey which gathers views from head teachers and classroom teachers in state-funded primary and secondary schools. The panel consists of around 4,500 members who have agreed to participate in short, regular research surveys on topical issues in education. The Department intends to publish the results of the survey in the autumn of 2021. The Department does not collect information regarding the length of school days from local authorities.The Government is committed to an ambitious, long-term education recovery plan. The next stage includes a review of time spent in school and 16-19 education, and the impact this could have on helping children and young people to catch up. The findings of the policy review will be used to inform the Spending Review later in the year.

Ministry of Justice

Health and Social Care Act 2008

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average turnaround time has been for first tier tribunals in relation to section 31 proceedings under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 in the latest period for which those figures are available.

Kit Malthouse: Information about the the First-tier Tribunal (Care Standards) is published at:www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics For the period April – June 2021, the latest period for which data are available, the average turnaround time1 for the Care Standards Tribunal in relation to section 31 proceedings under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 was 10 working days. 1 Average turnaround time is the average time from receipt to disposal.Data are taken from a live management information system and can change over time. Data are management information and are not subject to the same level of checks as official statistics.The data provided are the most recent available and for that reason might differ from any previously published information.Although care is taken when processing and analysing the data, the details are subject to inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale case management system and are the best data available.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

China: Religious Freedom

Carla Lockhart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help ensure freedom of religious expression in China in response to reports of the sentencing in January 2021 of four Christians for selling audio bibles in that country.

Amanda Milling: We are aware of reports of the sentencing of four Christians in China for selling audio bibles. We remain deeply concerned about the persecution of Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Falun Gong practitioners and others on the grounds of their religion or belief in China. The freedom to practise, change or share ones faith or belief without discrimination or violent opposition is a human right that all people should enjoy. The former Foreign Secretary personally raised our serious concerns about the human rights situation in China with his Chinese counterpart, State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, on a number of occasions, most recently on 27 May.

Ministry of Defence

Afghanistan: Refugees

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to provide support to families in Afghanistan who followed instructions to go to Kabul Airport for military evacuation but were unable to enter the Airport before the evacuation ended.

James Heappey: The MOD is doing everything it possibly can for those called forward but not evacuated under the ARAP scheme. We are in contact with the majority of them and are continuing to press the Taliban for their safe passage. Some may decide to make their way to third countries – we will provide whatever support we can with their journey. We have arrangements in place for their welfare in third countries and their subsequent journey on to the UK.

Afghanistan: Asylum

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what proportion of the Afghan nationals who supported the British armed forces during the conflict and requested to be relocated have now been supported in leaving Afghanistan.

James Heappey: Under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP), around 7,000 Afghans who worked in support of the UK defence and security mission were found eligible and relocated to the UK. This is the vast majority of those found eligible for the scheme prior to OP PITTING.Regrettably, 311 eligible ARAP applicants were not evacuated from Afghanistan as part of Operation PITTING, however 46 of these individuals have since made their way to a third country or the UK by other means.The ARAP scheme remains open and we continue to receive and assess applications. From the conclusion of Operation PITTING on 28 August up to 14 August, a further 40 Afghan nationals have been found eligible for the scheme. All those eligible for the scheme will be supported to come to the UK.

Afghanistan: Unmanned Air Vehicles

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of allegations that drones from Pakistan have been used in the recent fighting in the Panjshir valley.

James Heappey: We continue to monitor the security situation in Afghanistan very carefully. The UK remains committed to working closely with partners in the region to promote stability and secure the best possible outcomes for Afghanistan and its people.

Afghanistan: Asylum

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2021 to Question 43388, how many Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy applications were received up to the period 1 to 31 August 2021; and how many of those applications were subsequently rejected.

James Heappey: From the start of the scheme in April to 31 August 2021, 60,000 applications for relocation to the UK under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) were received.Approximately 52,350 were rejected, either at the initial triage or following detailed casework.Of the total applications received during this period, 6,800 are still being processed by a casework team. In many cases, more information has been requested so that the most appropriate eligibility decision is made.

Reserve Forces

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to publish the 2021 annual report produced by the Reserve Forces External Scrutiny Team; and if he will place a copy of that report in the Library.

James Heappey: We are very grateful to the External Scrutiny Team for their work. The Ministry of Defence will place their 2021 report in the Library of the House in the next few weeks.

National Flagship: Crew

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to have the new Royal Yacht manned by the Royal Navy.

Mr Ben Wallace: The National Flagship is not a direct replacement for HMY Britannia and therefore, will not be a Royal Yacht. The National Flagship will be crewed by the Royal Navy and is expected to be in service for around 30 years.

National Flagship: Procurement

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what criteria his Department is using to assess applicants for the tendering process for design phase one of the planned new Royal Yacht.

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department will take to prioritise design as a criterion in the tender process for the construction of the new Royal Yacht.

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the construction of the new Royal Yacht will be completed at a British shipyard by a British firm.

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the vessel design of the new Royal Yacht will be required to reflect Britannia’s style and appointment.

Mr Ben Wallace: The National Flagship is not a direct replacement for HMY Britannia and will not therefore be a Royal Yacht. The design criteria against which bids will be assessed will be communicated to bidders in due course as part of the Design competition tender documentation. A wide pool of designers are being taken forward to this next stage of the competition. It would be inappropriate to place this information in the public domain ahead of its disclosure as part of the commercial process. As the National Flagship, the design of the ship must encompass innovative proposals which incorporate the most up to date and sustainable technology, reflecting the UK’s status as an independent trading nation and showcasing the best of what Britain has to offer. It is the intention of the Government that the National Flagship will be built in the UK to help contribute to the renaissance in the British shipbuilding industry.

Ajax Vehicles: Testing

Mr Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the estimated total cost is of the new trials which have recommenced at Millbrook on the Ajax Armoured Fighting Vehicle; and from which Top Level Budget the funding for those trials will come.

Jeremy Quin: I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 10 September to question 44327 to the Hon. Member for Islwyn (Mr Evans).44327 - Ajax Vehicles; Testing (docx, 13.8KB)

Afghanistan: Armed Conflict

Mr Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Prime Minister's oral contribution on 8 July 2021, Official Report, column 1107, what the evidential basis was for the statement that there was no military path to victory for the Taliban.

Mr Ben Wallace: The Government made a range of assessments of the military strength and capabilities of the Taliban and the likely speed and success of their efforts to regain control over Afghanistan. However, none suggested that the Taliban assume power through military force alone. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said during the debate, the Taliban will be aware that there must be 'a peaceful and a negotiated settlement for the political crisis' as well.

Ministry of Defence: Welsh Government

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he last met Ministers in the Welsh Government.

Mr Ben Wallace: My noble. Friend Baroness Goldie is the Defence Minister with responsibility for engagement with the devolved nations. Baroness Goldie last met with Ministers in the Welsh Government on 23 March 2021 and will be meeting them again later this year. Additionally, the Minister for Defence People and Veterans met with the Welsh Deputy Minister for Social Partnership, Hannah Blythyn, on 6 July 2021, and 27 April 2020. I will be meeting with the Ministers in the Welsh Government in October this year.

Armed Forces: Influenza

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on potential use of the armed forces to transport seasonal flu vaccines in the event that the shortage of HGV drivers continues.

Mr Ben Wallace: The Armed Forces provide support to the civil authorities where a situation goes beyond the capacity and/or capability of local authorities and other agencies, through a process known as Military Aid Civil Authorities (MACA) process. The Secretary of State for Defence has had discussions with Cabinet Colleagues around Defence’s role in winter resilience, however, at present, there has been no MACA requests for the Armed Forces to transport seasonal flu vaccines in the event that the shortage of HGV drivers continues.

Iran: International Military Services

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether a date has been set for the next court hearing for the IMS-Modsaf arbitration.

Mr Ben Wallace: We have not received a further hearing date from the court in respect of this dispute.

International Military Services

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what date responsibility for the day-to-day activities of IMS Ltd was transferred to his Department, as stated in its 2019-20 company accounts.

Mr Ben Wallace: Day-to-day activity of IMS Ltd has been overseen by permanent Defence officials since they were appointed to the Board of Directors the 4 of September 2020.

International Military Services

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what date his Department provided IMS Ltd with formal notice of the reporting requirements and regulations as a designated Arms Length Body of the Government.

Mr Ben Wallace: IMS Ltd is fully aware of the reporting requirements and regulations associated with its status as an Arms Length Body. These are reviewed and considered through regular dialogue between the company and relevant Defence officials.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Plants: Inspections

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what economic impact assessment he has carried out on the impact of plant inspection charges on garden centres.

Victoria Prentis: It has long been UK Government policy to charge for many publicly provided goods and services. The standard approach is to set fees to recover the full costs of service delivery. This relieves the general taxpayer of costs, so that they are properly borne by users who benefit from a service. This allows for a more equitable distribution of public resources and enables lower public expenditure and borrowing. Defra plant health services operate in line with that principle and have done for many years. No assessment on the impact of plant inspection charges on garden centres has been carried out. Legislation relating to fees does not fall within the bounds of the Business Impact Target and so does not require the development of impact assessments. Additionally, The Plant Health etc. (Fees) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2021, which extended the existing plant health charging regime to imports from and exports to the EU, was covered by a statutory exclusion under the Small Business Enterprise and Employment (SBEE) Act, because the instrument was varying an existing charge levied by a public body (the Animal and Plant Health Agency). The actual cost to businesses will vary depending on how they organise their imports and the type of material being imported. However, Defra has engaged extensively with industry and, to reduce the burden on businesses, Defra took the decision to delay the introduction of inspection fees for imports of ‘high priority’ plants and plant products from the EU until 1 June 2021 in England and Wales. In arriving at the decision to delay the introduction of plant health import inspection fees for these goods, Defra has had to balance the need to support affected businesses against legal considerations and the rules around managing public money. Delaying these fees until 1 June 2021 struck the right balance between these competing demands.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Listed Buildings

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will publish the (a) properties classified as heritage assets by his Department, (b) most recent estimate of the value of those properties and (c) annual income derived from those properties.

Victoria Prentis: Defra is advised on the management of designated heritage assets in its portfolio by Historic England’s Government Historic Estate Unit. Further details can be found here:https://historicengland.org.uk/services-skills/our-planning-services/advice-for-government-historic-estatesDefra does not collect or collate data on the property value or income data for these assets.

Pigmeat: Exports

Dave Doogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he has taken with Cabinet colleagues to expedite a resumption of pork exports from UK pig processing plants, whose export licenses to China were voluntarily surrendered due to the covid-19 pandemic.

Victoria Prentis: Defra is working closely with the Department for International Trade (DIT) and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) at every level to utilise opportunities to press the General Administration of Customs China (GACC) for the re-listing of the three affected UK pork processing plants. As part of this Defra has taken a number of steps, including those summarised below. Defra, in collaboration with DIT and FCDO, continues to monitor the situation and to do all it can to resolve this issue. However, re-listing these establishments is ultimately in the gift of the GACC.  The Defra Secretary of State wrote to GACC Minister Ni in March 2021 and again in May 2021 to raise this issue and request a meeting. GACC have not responded.Defra has fulfilled all of China’s technical requests to enable the re-listing of these UK establishments. This includes the submission to GACC of extensive COVID-19 dossiers, countersigned by the relevant Food Safety Competent Authorities and Public Health Authorities, as well as completing virtual video inspections chaired and facilitated by Defra with GACC Officials, where requested.A letter from the UK Chief Veterinary Officer was sent to GACC to highlight the latest UN Food and Agriculture Organisation’s guidance that was published in August 2021 on the risks COVID-19 transmission via food or food packaging.Beyond direct engagement with GACC, Defra continues to engage with FCDO and DIT colleagues at different levels on a regular basis to ensure a consistent, joined up approach to UK Government pressing GACC for the re-listing of UK pork establishments.Additionally, the UK raised concerns regarding these trade restrictive measures at the World Trade Organisation Sanitary Phytosanitary (WTO SPS) Committee in November 2020, March 2021, July 2021 and in bilateral discussions with China.

Fly-tipping

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the cost of fly-tipping to local authorities.

Rebecca Pow: Research conducted by Eunomia on behalf of Defra estimated the total costs of fly-tipping for all UK authorities to be £103 million per annum. However, the report notes that better information on incident type, size, composition and clean-up cost would be necessary to provide more certainty around this 'very indicative, initial estimate'. This report can be found at: WRAP-eunomia-financial-cost-of-packaging-litter-phase-2-2021 Until 2016/17 Defra estimated the cost of clearing fly-tipping to local authorities in England each year as part of Defra published statistics. The estimated cost in 2016/17 was £57.7 million. These cost estimates are no longer produced but figures for previous years can be found at: www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fly-tipping-in-england

Home Office

Migrant Workers

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of implementing the recommendations of the Grant Thornton Report on Labour Availability to (a) introduce a 12 month covid-19 recovery visa to enable supply chains to recruit critical roles and (b) commit to a permanent, revised and expanded Seasonal Worker Scheme for UK horticulture.

Kevin Foster: The independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) found some roles in the food production, supply and agricultural sectors meet the RQF3 skills threshold for the Skilled Worker route so are eligible to be sponsored for a Skilled Worker visa, whereas others do not. The threshold was previously set at degree-level jobs. Modelling by the MAC suggests the new, broader RQF3 threshold strikes a reasonable balance between controlling immigration and business access to labour.The Government position therefore remains we will not be introducing a short-term visa route such as the ‘Covid recovery visa’ as has been suggested. Most of the solutions are likely to be driven by industry, with a big push towards improving pay, conditions and diversity needed. We will continue to monitor the labour needs of other sectors and the Government agreed with the Migration Advisory Committee to have a more regular pattern of minor and major reviews of the Shortage Occupation List, with the first major review taking place no earlier than 2023.Beyond the Points Based System, there is the existing UK labour market, which includes those who come to the UK through our Youth Mobility Schemes (which we are looking to expand), our new British National (Overseas) visa for those from Hong Kong, dependants of those arriving under the expanded skilled worker route, as well as over 6million applications under the EU Settlement Scheme and those who arrive through other routes, such as our family visa ones, who all have access to the UK labour market.As a transitional measure, to help farm businesses adjust to changes to the UK labour market, the Seasonal Workers Pilot was extended into this year with 30,000 visas available (which, as yet, have not all been taken up). Decisions on the future of the pilot will be taken in due course, however, there are no plans to expand the pilot further

Women and Equalities

Equality

Lee Anderson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps her Department is taking to tackle geographic inequality of opportunity.

Kemi Badenoch: Levelling up is at the heart of the Government’s agenda to build back better after the pandemic. The Government will publish a landmark Levelling Up White Paper later this year, setting out bold new policy interventions to improve livelihoods and opportunity in all parts of the UK.To support this, the Minister for Women and Equalities announced the Equality Data Programme in December, to ensure that geographic and socio-economic inequality is taken into account, alongside other factors, when identifying barriers to opportunity.We also moved the sponsorship of the Social Mobility Commission across to the Equality Hub in April, so that it can play a crucial role in tackling regional inequalities.